Brentford ended their four-game losing streak in style on Saturday, as goals from Jake Bidwell, Alan Judge an John Swift earned a 3-1 win at Preston . However, there were many more talking points for the travelling fans than just the result, and here's our view of a great day for the Bees.
Barbet brilliance
There were some eyebrows raised on the journey up to Preston when it was announced that Yoann Barbet , with just three first team appearances under his belt and without a start in four months, would be filling the hole vacated by James Tarkowski rather than Jack O'Connell . But not only did the Frenchman stand up to the physical challenge posed by the likes of Joe Garner, he also looked comfortable on the ball and set up Alan Judge's goal with a lovely 70-yard diagonal pass. He seems a like-for-like replacement for Tarkowski's more cultured play, whereas O'Connell appears to offer a more no-nonsense approach in the style of Harlee Dean. Whatever combination Dean Smith opts for in future, the absence of Tarkowski suddenly doesn't seem such a huge problem for the Bees.
Toums may not be missed
There has been some wailing and gnashing of teeth in some quarters over the sale of Toumani Diagouraga to Leeds, but it seems good business to me for a player who has had one real stand-out season in six and was so out in the cold 16 months ago that he was growing icicles. A lovely lad and a good player on his day, but this season his day was not as often as perhaps it should have been, and before his resurrection last season – when surrounded by class players, no less – was never really the first name on the team sheet. How did the Bees cope without him? Josh McEachran had his best game yet, Ryan Woods continues to grow into a fine player, and Sam Saunders continues to defy those who insist his Brentford career is behind him. I still think we need perhaps one more snarler in there to protect the ball players, but Toums going, while sad, is not the end of the world.
Brentford's best ever keeper?
It is a question that has been often asked this season – is David Button Brentford's best ever keeper? He certainly gave an answer an Deepdale with one of the best saves ever seen by a Bees keeper, a Gordon Banks-eqsue dive and tip to send a deflected shot onto the bar when a goal seemed inevitable. His shot-stopping has always been good, and his kicking has improved this season, and Butts has really developed into his role as a sweeper-keeper, always as comfortable looking to start attacks as stopping them. He would be one player that Brentford truly would miss if another club came calling.
Judge and jury
A lot has been said about Alan Judge's contract situation , and the crazy clauses apparently trying to be inserted by an agent no doubt looking for what could be the last big pay day he gets out of his client. Judge showed once more exactly why Brentford are doing everything they can to keep him, without being suckered into offering a deal which could see them lose the player for well below market value in the summer. Hopefully it's a situation that can be resolved, but in the meantime, Bees fans can at least be rest assured that Judge is to be the kind of character who will keep giving his all in every game – and for whom refusing to play is probably a totally alien concept.
Football versus thuggery
Anyone not at the game and having viewed the highlights would assume Brentford were under the cosh in the second half. For 15 minutes or so they did ride their luck, but for the rest of it, just like in the first half, the Bees combated Preston's physical approach with some excellent football, and won the day playing the game the right way. I don't wish to write Preston off as cloggers, but let's just say they were lucky to finish the game with 11 men on the pitch, Joe Garner (pictured) in particular fortunate to escape an early shower. The most pleasing thing, however, was how a Brentford side coming out of the traumatic week, and stuck in a four-game losing streak to boot, refused to be cowed by the physical approach of their hosts, stuck to their philosophy and were rewarded handsomely.
